Vanessa Minnillo (born November 9, 1980 in the Philippines) is an American television personality and model who was Miss Teen USA 1998.

She was born at Clark Air Base to an Italian-Irish father Vince Minnillo and Filipina mother Helen Berecero. She moved around, but eventually grew up in Charleston, South Carolina. She became Miss South Carolina Teen USA 1998 and then went on to win the 1998 Miss Teen USA Pageant. She has hosted TRL on MTV since 2003. Also, in 2005, she became a reporter for the entertainment news show, Entertainment Tonight.

In May 2006, Maxim magazine listed Minnillo as #15 in their Hot 100 issue. She is also currently dating Nick Lachey.

Trivia

• Her first interview on TRL was with hip-hop artist Chingy.
• Parents (divorced): Helen Bercero (a filipina) and Vince Minnillo, step-mother Donna Minnillo; older brother Vincent.
• Was crowned Miss Teen USA (the first delegate from South Carolina to capture the title) and received the Congeniality award in 1998. In the competition she received the highest score in Interview, Swimsuit, and Evening Gown categories.
• One of the finalists in E!'s competition to find a replacement for Brooke Burke as hostess for the show 'Wild On'.
• Cover girl of October 2005 men's magazine Maxim.
• She is 5'8" (1.73 m).
• Has had an on-and-off relationship with Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter since November 2003.
• Is featured in Nick Lachey's video for "What's Left of Me."

External links

• Official site
• Vanessa Minnillo at TV.com
• Vanessa Minnillo at the Internet Movie Database
• Vanessa Minnillo's bio courtesy of ET Online

Preceded by: Shelly Moore

Miss Teen USA 1998

Succeeded by: Ashley Coleman

Miss Universe Organization Titleholders 1998
Miss Universe Wendy Fitzwilliam	Miss USA Shawnae Jebbia	Miss Teen USA Vanessa Minnillo